6/5/2023
Old God’s Time

Old God’s Time

Some books go so deep it is hard to describe them at all. Starting from a policeman’s retirement, this story opens out into the trauma of Ireland, a violence kept secret, its effects explored with such tenderness and empathy it is heartbreaking. The language and landscape are immense and the love of humanity that comes through every page is extraordinary.

5/29/2023
History. A Mess

History. A Mess

Just one mistaken interpretation of a historic manuscript in the Bodleian is all it takes to send her into the elation of having discovered England’s first female artist- and the stress of the thesis that follows, culminating in the realisation of the mistake, is all it takes for the fatal disintegration of her personality. The journey through her mindscape will chill you with its overlays of everyday relationships and the pathological inability of facts to stay true.

5/22/2023
The Rabbit Hutch

The Rabbit Hutch

The Rabbit Hutch is the tower-block in which the characters of this novel reside: living in close proximity yet at a distance from one another. There is mundanity, the extraordinary and trauma in the lives depicted, which all converge in a single moment, the moment the novel starts, when the main character 'exits her body'. Shocking from the start, this is a provoking, tumultuous read. It will make you think, laugh and despair in equal measure.

5/15/2023
Vagabonds!

Vagabonds!

Imagine a city created by a rather malevolent god and watched over by one of his guardian angels. That city is Lagos and the angel looks after the 'vagabonds' - people attracted to the same sex, which is illegal in Nigeria. This is a story about how they survive, undercover of the protection of the angel. It is a story of bewilderment, of defiance, of courage and, most of all, of survival against all the odds.

5/8/2023
Palmares

Palmares

A disturbing, coming of age story of a young slave girl in 17th century Brazil, seeking to find her identity. As she is moved from plantation to plantation she hears of a place called Palmares where former slaves are said to be free. But is it the paradise it seems? This complex tale is told in a dispassionate way, but is woven with magic realism and mysticism. bringing a sense of hope to an otherwise bleak struggle.

5/1/2023
Of Women and Salt

Of Women and Salt

What a lot to pack into one short book! I got totally caught up in each successive generation as the story moved from Cuba to Miami, El Salvador to Texas. The voices are so strong and honest, it’s a moving exploration of women’s strengths and their failures – and a quietly devastating analysis of what they are up against.

4/24/2023
Swimming in the Dark

Swimming in the Dark

A lyrical coming of age story set within early 1980's Poland. We follow soon-to-graduate Ludwik and their rapidly blossoming love affair with Janusz, in the temporary idyll of a summer camp. Soon, the grip of the repressive State exerts its ever stronger hold over Ludwik's attempts to live a life true to themselves. Both the freedom and the constraint is powerfully drawn - I found this an evocative and illuminating read of individual resistance.

4/17/2023
Jackal

Jackal

Horror, thriller and fantasy meet in this novel, which kept me awake through the night wanting to see how it would end. Liz, a troubled black woman, visits her nearly all-white birthplace to attend the wedding of her best friend Mel. When Mel’s young daughter disappears, it sets in motion long-forgotten memories of a creature in the woods that abducts and maims little black girls. Tense, page-turning stuff.

4/10/2023
I Am Not Your Eve

I Am Not Your Eve

A chorus of voices combine to reclaim the story of Teha-amana, muse and child-bride of artist Paul Gauguin, and subject of his painting 'Spirit of the Dead Keeps Watch'. Set in Tahiti, the book interweaves exquisite retellings of Polynesian origin myths with troubling colonial power abuses behind the painting. Familiarise yourself with the artwork before reading if you can, as this makes the book's multiple voices resonate even more profoundly.

4/3/2023
Marigold and Rose

Marigold and Rose

With the simplicity of a fable, we share the thoughts of twin sisters in the first year of their life. They are contrasting personalities: Rose the social butterfly living in the now; Marigold the introverted overthinker who already feels intense nostalgia for the passing of time. Warmly and with a wry grin, the book allows us to reflect too, on ourselves and on time. In these slim 52 pages, I found a vast sense of empathy, sadness and wonder.

3/27/2023
Briefly, A Delicious Life

Briefly, A Delicious Life

This story is based on a winter George Sands and Frederick Chopin spent in Majorca. Funny, desperate and sensory, it is narrated by a ghostly voyeur seeking revenge for the suffering she endured in her own life. She indulges in both experience and emotion by occupying the bodies and memories of the living. This offers an unexpected tale in the ghost story genre and a different view of Majorca. It will make you laugh, seethe and wonder.

3/20/2023
Body Kintsugi

Body Kintsugi

There are flashes of humour but ultimately this is an intimate and brutal novella exploring a woman’s identity through her childhood with an abusive, alcoholic father, her abandonment by her adulterous husband, swiftly followed by a breast cancer diagnosis. The short, poetic sentences make everything immediate, so it is both easy to read and yet gruelling as we watch her endure the endless, traumatic treatment. Devastating but compelling.

3/13/2023
The Great Passage

The Great Passage

This book is just up my street - great for lovers of language and words. I enjoyed it tremendously and almost forgot the Japanese dictionary Majime worked on for 13 years was a work of fiction. Was almost on my way out to buy it! Not only does the story tell in detail how dictionaries are made, from the collation of words to the making of special paper, but it has humour and is also a gentle and tender love story.

3/6/2023
Brother

Brother

This is a tender, beautifully composed book, voiced from the outsider perspective of Michael as two key timelines from his family life play out. At times it is brutal and there are outbursts of devastating violence. But there is so much articulate and generous emotion that, ultimately, hope can be felt - especially in the evocation of mix-music that enables culture to creatively intersect. In this deceptively slight book, every word matters.

2/27/2023
The Trees

The Trees

You wouldn’t think a book about lynching would be funny, but somehow this police procedural story, that addresses both historical and modern day racism, veers from biting humour to horrifying retribution in a setting both familiar and strange. It's loaded with swearing and racial slurs, but that's all part of the satire. As the deaths pile up, and what began as a revenge crime snowballs into something much bigger, it becomes increasingly unreal.

2/20/2023
A Certain Hunger

A Certain Hunger

Smart, macabre, witty and decadent this book is a darkly sensual read. Dorothy is successful food critic with an appetite for sex and violence. This is her memoir written from prison which recounts the murders of her lovers with unsettling precision. Be warned you may find yourself compelled to sympathise with a psychopath or even taking a distasteful enjoyment in her crimes.

2/13/2023
The Ardent Swarm

The Ardent Swarm

A beautiful and poetic novel in which the invasion of a hostile swarm of hornets is compared to the political situation in an Arabic country. Sidi, the main protagonist, is a gentle, nature-loving beekeeper who is living in a remote village. On the discovery of the threat to his beloved bees, he takes action, together with his friends. Superbly written it grabbed my attention from the outset and kept it all the way through.

2/6/2023
Small Pleasures

Small Pleasures

This starts off so you think it’s going to be magical realism with a virgin birth but it’s much more down to earth than that. Brilliant fifties’ setting, strongly realised characters and a detective-style plot that slowly reveals. It’s witty and subtle as the pain of duty and repressed emotion do battle with unexpected love. A real pleasure to read.

1/30/2023
Mercia’s Take

Mercia’s Take

This is a compelling read, offering a glimpse into the life of a Black Country miner and a vivid snapshot of 1870's industrial Britain. Unremittingly bleak, Michael Cash's joyless existence plays out against a Mordoresque backdrop. Events are relayed in a staccato, spare style, words are fused, while the use of local dialect conveys a feeling of authenticity. A pacey and original story which brings history to life - brace yourself and try it.

1/23/2023
Luster

Luster

Brutally honest and authentically contemporary, we follow millennial Edie who, facing insecurity in her job and flatshare, embarks on an affair with an older white man. The book unflinchingly explores the intersections of sex, violence, race and power, and the losses experienced by Edie create an unsettling sense of numbness. But there is sharp humour too, and I was left feeling astonishment at the fluid beauty of the book’s language.

1/16/2023
Summer Brother

Summer Brother

I just couldn’t stop reading - I became immensely involved in the story about this dysfunctional family, with the seriously disabled Lucien, the heroic, heart-warming, endearing but also clumsy efforts of 13-year old Brian to look after him, as well as the frustratingly neglectful behaviour of Maurice, their father. But despite the dismal situation I felt compassion, love and care take the lead. Lightness prevails where awkwardness threatens.

1/9/2023
Woman, Eating

Woman, Eating

Sensual, striking and funny, this novel examines the vampire genre through a modern lense. Lydia explores her dual identities of demon and human, and Asian and British, searching for belonging in food, art and relationships. This is a gripping, thrilling and immersive read to sink your teeth into.

1/2/2023
Nightcrawling

Nightcrawling

Stories about sexual violence and police corruption do not make for easy reading and the young black woman at the centre of this story is faced with a relentless reality of exploitation. That said, the lush writing, though intense, is never sentimental and Oakland's diverse landscape is vividly brought to life. This novel was inspired by real events, which lends it, I think, an added poignancy.

12/26/2022
The Sweetness of Water

The Sweetness of Water

Despite the serious topic, I found this a lyrical story, full of hope. After the abolition of slavery two brothers turn up at George's small farm and start working for him. His son Caleb was allegedly killed in the Civil War. When August, Caleb’s lover, kills one of the brothers out of panic and hate against the freed slaves, things heat up very quickly. The strength of the novel is in the grey tones: neither side is entirely good or bad.

12/19/2022
Phenotypes

Phenotypes

Federico, mixed-race but white passing, struggles with the privilege he experiences compared to his darker skinned brother. Past incidents reveal Federico's motivations for his work for racial equality and conflicts between theory and lived experience are exposed. The stream of consciousness narrative, though challenging, gives a close connection to the protagonist and makes for an intense, thought provoking read.

12/12/2022
Bitterhall

Bitterhall

In this intellectually challenging story I was drawn into the lives of three complicated characters in search of love. Confronted with three versions of the same story I was constantly alert: who is telling what, and why. Is one of them possessed by an ancient diary writer? Who is responsible for whom? A crisis in the harsh Scottish countryside seems to give an answer, but is that really so?

12/5/2022
Bad Eminence

Bad Eminence

This is a rabbit-hole of a read, full of playful digressions that question the fabric of reality. The experience is one of artful disorientation, as we are led by the blackly humorous, misanthropic narration of self-aware narcissist Vanessa, a literary translator, through corridors of an abduction mystery intercut with philosophical meditation, product placement and holiday snapshots. A surreal trickster of a book that defies categorisation.

11/28/2022
Of Saints and Miracles

Of Saints and Miracles

Although very loosely taking its lead from crime fiction, this book is more a pastoral hymn to the interconnectedness of things. As outcast villager Marcelino goes into hiding, we move through a fully realised Spanish countryside, created through myth, fable and rural rhythms, and the intermingling of past and present. This is a mindful reading experience, poetic and lyrical: each word combination is to be savoured.

11/21/2022
The Bread the Devil Knead

The Bread the Devil Knead

I really enjoyed the authentic voice of Alethea in this novel. Despite the terrible life she has, there is hope to be found in friendship and the strong bond of family. Her love for her work in a clothes shop gives her a new perspective to escape her abusive boyfriend. But even so, I found the scenes of abuse tough to read.

11/14/2022
The Girl with the Green Eyes

The Girl with the Green Eyes

What if the reason you felt you didn't fit in was because you were engineered that way? This novel follows Bella: the result of a eugenics program creating designer babies. Through twists and turns and flashbacks to her childhood, we learn about the sinister undertones of her early years, and why, as an adult, she is running. This is a fast paced thrill of a book, with some real ethical dilemmas at its heart.

11/7/2022
Issac and the Egg

Issac and the Egg

This is a hugely emotional read that will seep into your every waking moment – and maybe even your dreams. It's suffused with warmth and sadness but pockets of real humour bring light in the darkness. The overriding feeling is one of love, which shines as a beacon through Isaac's pain and loss. But what about the story – and who or what is the egg? Impossible to describe in a few words – so please just read the book and discover for yourself.

10/31/2022
The Raptures

The Raptures

When children begin falling sick in a rural community, a multitude of conflicts are scratched wide-open. Told largely through the eyes of 11 year old Hannah, this entertaining and empathetic read pulls you in many directions: from the sadness and horror of illness to the rich humour of early Nineties pop culture. A ghost story, a study of the end of childhood, and an examination of faith in Northern Ireland, this is a vivid and exhilarating read.

10/24/2022
The School for Good Mothers

The School for Good Mothers

This is a raw and provocative read set in a near future where the state punishes mothers deemed to be unsuitable. To win their children back, mothers must be retrained in a harsh and dehumanising institution. Both emotional and disturbing, the thrilling and involving plot is set against the prejudices of society and the pressures of parenting. Parents, you may lose sleep over this book.

10/17/2022
How High We Go in the Dark

How High We Go in the Dark

Spanning thousands of years and numerous and diverse locations, this is the story of a deadly virus and its implications for the future of the human race. Told through a myriad of inter-linked stories which are at times tender, often desperately sad and always dark and probing, this novel explores death and grief and our responsibilities for one another and our planet.

10/10/2022
Assembly

Assembly

Prepare yourself for a powerful and philosophical read with a fusion of narrative styles. Addressing identity, gender, race and class, it explores too how the ghost of Empire still haunts Britain and the impact this has on the life of a high-achieving black woman. Despite its brevity, this is a book which speaks volumes, easily read in one sitting and perhaps the better for it.

10/3/2022
Somebody Loves You

Somebody Loves You

Beautifully rendered and wryly observed, this novel touches on family, mental illness and the therapeutic properties of gardening. The broken, fragmented narrative brings to mind a cubist painting, but this is a portrait with surprising detail and depth; a powerful coming-of-age story which rewards the reader with the rich interior world of a mute girl.

9/26/2022
Burntcoat

Burntcoat

I really engaged with this beautifully written, poetic tale of survival and death during a pandemic (not Covid). It’s hard to say that I enjoyed it because it is distressing but also uplifting in many ways. Be prepared for detailed sex scenes, delivered in forthright, language, from a woman’s point of view.

9/19/2022
The Only Good Indians

The Only Good Indians

This book is a Jacobean bloodbath driven by a supernatural Elk seeking retribution from the Indian community. The light-touch but intimate feel of Native American life, with all its heritage or baggage, brings home the failings and longings of the human characters, as the animal spirit reeks its revenge. A haunting, unusual and brutal novel.

9/12/2022
The Other Black Girl

The Other Black Girl

Genre-wise, this is difficult to pin down. It moves from witty office politics to chilling social commentary on racial microaggressions, spinning into a creepy magical realism/science fiction thriller! I actually had to read it twice to really grasp what was going on, but I was gripped both times!

9/5/2022
Nightbitch

Nightbitch

Subversive and powerful, this one grabs you by the throat. A young artist navigates her way through the complexities and traumas of motherhood and the physical and mental changes that threaten to overwhelm her. Mysticism and the folklore of her Appalation heritage influence her decisions in this quirky and outrageous tale. The read is intimate and graphic, earthy and darkly funny. The, at times, surreal narrative pulls no punches.

8/29/2022
Our Lady of the Nile

Our Lady of the Nile

Set in a young ladies' finishing school in the remote hills of Rwanda, increasing racial tensions reflect national attitudes. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, there are many moments of humour. Girls will be girls, and I was charmed by them and by this remarkable novel.

8/22/2022
The Disaster Tourist

The Disaster Tourist

A surreal thriller combined with a satirical commentary on modern capitalism, environmental exploitation and the nature of tourism. Yona works for a travel company organising trips to disaster zones, but when she ends up on one of their holidays to an island off Vietnam, she finds that things are not quite as they seem. An original and intriguing story that holds you in its grip as ever increasing danger draws it towards a climax.

8/15/2022
The Coven

The Coven

This is an urgent, dark and vividly told adventure which will drawn you in for a provocative thrill ride. Set in an alternate reality where magic is real and witches are violently persecuted, the story follows two witches coming to terms with their power and discovering their responsibility in establishing a just society.

8/8/2022
Winter Counts

Winter Counts

A propulsive read. We follow local vigilante Virgil in his attempts to cleanse the Rosebud Reservation of drug gangs. Vivid descriptions of Native American spirituality are mixed with hard-boiled noir, as Virgil navigates the conflicting elements of his identity. The combination is memorable, delivering both the punch of a crime thriller, and an enlightening insight into systemic challenges facing contemporary indigenous American life.

8/1/2022
Rabbits

Rabbits

A parallel story to the podcast of the same name, this novel is an edge of your seat thrill ride through the worlds of a dark and mysterious alternate reality game. With a backdrop of pop culture references and vintage tech, cryptic clues are gathered and solved moving the game forward and as things begin to get scary, the boundaries between play, reality and possibility become blurred.

7/25/2022
The Boat People

The Boat People

Mahindan and his young son, Sellian, flee their war-torn homeland of Sri Lanka and board a boat to Canada, hoping for a better life there. As Mahindan waits in jail for his lawyer and the adjudicator to decide his future, Sellian is taken into foster care where he begins a new life in a democratic society. This candid insight into the desperation of asylum seekers was sobering, so be prepared to be moved by this timely tale, just as I was.

7/18/2022
Minor Detail

Minor Detail

This book explores the minutiae of life under occupation, making the reader feel the fears, frustrations and brutalities. It confronts you with war's atrocities and is brave enough to withhold narrative judgment to allow you to make up your own mind. Uncomfortable and at times harrowing, yet ultimately an important novel about the forgotten voices in war that deserve to be heard.

7/11/2022
Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters

Domestic Bliss and Other Disasters

Sally tells the story of her mid-life antics involving her 'creative' son, her overwhelmed new-mum daughter, her politician spouse, a rat-catching lodger, two long-standing friends, and a neighbour with an unhealthy interest in rhubarb leaves. Sally's life is all wrapped up in a comical coat of witty observation and good old-fashioned British humour guaranteed to raise a smile (and an eyebrow).

7/4/2022
Death Drives an Audi

Death Drives an Audi

A dark vein of satire definitely hits the mark in this road trip novel. A journey of self-discovery is peppered with screwball surrealistic descriptions of the minutiae of life that is absurd, tender and indignant. The social reality is the beating heart of this light yet thoughtful read, enhanced by the needling, genuine friendship of the characters and some colourful writing.

6/27/2022
The Last One

The Last One

Told through repeated refrains like a prayer recital or affirmation, this is a fast, lyrical read. Each short chapter finds narrator Fatima, French of Algerian descent, examining the different, often conflicting, layers of her identity and the rules structuring her world – her faith, sexuality and family. Fatima’s generous honesty carries us with her, and makes for a sometimes abrasive, exhilarating and enlightening sharing of experience.